When at last the final whistle went and 70,000 people erupted, Barcelona’s anthem booming round the Camp Nou at last taking the tension away, their players collapsed to the floor exhausted. Chelsea’s gathered in a circle in the middle of the pitch; they had this team to edge, competing to the last, but it is the Catalans who made it through, a 1-1 draw on the night taking them to a third consecutive Champions League final, their fourth in five seasons.
On the touchline, Emma Hayes could be proud of her team, who came from one down here, Guro Reiten equalising Caroline Graham Hansen’s opener, but the Norwegian’s first leg goal at Stamford Bridge had ultimately decided this. Having defeated Lyon another extraordinary feat was a step too far; Chelsea eventually beaten by a very special team. In the end, there was just not quite enough. They had though got close. For a lot of the night that had not looked likely, but the rebellion came.
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